Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

698 That worldly thingswithdrttvmenfront God,feruice. their honourable condition,ifthey fhould come into the com- mon aflèmblies,andioyne with the vulgar people in the feruice ofGod,doe vtterly negleé+ the publick minifierie of the word, prayer,and fuch religious exercifes, which are to be performed in the congregation, contenting themfelues with their home deuotions, and with the minifterie of their ownc chaplaines; who for themoftpart dare not touch theirfleepieg confciences, for feareofawaking thefieepitrg lion,norcome neete thequick for feare of lofing their fauour, and withall their owne pefer- ment.Wherein they haue but a poore priuiledge,being like vn- to the (icke patient, whole bodie abounding with groffe hu- mors,hath no potion fit to purge them adminiftred by his skil- full Phyfrtian,for feare ofdif+affing his pallet,buc is fuffercd to cate anddrinkc whatheft pleafeth him, though it hindreth his recouerie,andincrcafeth his di (cafes. Or like vntothofe who are full ofdeepe wounds., and feared fores, whom the furgeon dare nottouch -for feare of putting them to paint, nor appl ie fit fillies for the effe&ing of the cure, for feare of incurring their al i(Pleafures,but either letteth them alone to rot and Perifh for want ofhelpe,or applieth healing and gentle platters, which may skinne the fores,but kaue the core and corruption fearing in the bottom e. But fuchihoúld remcmber,thatwhen theLord ordained congregations,and places ofcommon aflèmblies, bee appointed not a temple for the common people, and a chamber or chapel' for the nobilitie; but noble and bate, yea King and fubiebi,were commanded to meet togerher,becaufeby a mutu- all confent,and holy example, they might incourage out ano- ther,and performe the feruicc ofGod with more alacritie. For howfoeuer there are diuers degrees among(+ men in dull go- uernement,yet in rcfpe& ofGod, and in thedutics of his wor- p,they are all alike the feruanrs ofGod,brethren and Eons of the fame Father,fellow members of the fame bodie, and ofthe fame comtnuniô offaints,of which,Chriff lefus is the head and King.Fromwhich common order,though Princes may in there daiesbe exempted,in regard that we are not ariófly tied to the temple.but may in allplaces offer vp pure hands vnto God;and beeaufeoftheir great familiesfufficient in themfelues to make a fulficient congregation; and efpecially becaufe the finfulnes oftbe times is fitch,and mens minds fo -poifoned with treache- rie,